Seenotstaffel 81
Seenotstaffel 81
(Unit Code: Q8+)
Formation. (Aug 44 - Sep 44)
Ordered formed 19 August 1944 at Großenbrode in Schleswig-Holstein by renaming 2. Seenotstaffel with formation and permanent station to be at Bug auf Rügen in Mecklenburg. Staffel was a component of Seenotgruppe 81. Equipped initially and mainly with Do 24 flying boats.[1]
Western and Central Baltic. (Aug 44 - May 45)
Aug 44: the Staffel’s principal station was at Bug auf Rügen until the end of the war with small Kdos. (detachments) scattered about at a number of other seaplane bases and anchorages.[2]
5 Mar 45: Do 24T shot down by ground fire at or near the seaplane base at Kamp/Pomerania, 100%, 4 KIA.[3]
Oct 44: received a small number of Me 410s, which were under the command of Oblt. Detlev von Petersdorff to the end of the war.[4]
Mar 45: using 12 Do 24s, the Staffel evacuated hundreds of children from Nest/Pomerania in mid-March as Soviet tanks entered the town. One of the Do 24s is said to have taken off with 17 adults and 99 children aboard (normal capacity 14 passengers!).
25 Apr 45: Staffel had 5 Do 24s at Bug auf Rügen, 2 Do 24s at Travemünde, 2 Do 24s at Großenbrode, 1 Do 24 at Swinemünde, 1 Do 24 at Aalborg (Ålborg)/N Denmark, 3(2) Me 410s at Parow, and 3(2) Ju 88s at Parow. The Me 410s and Ju 88s were used to fly air-sea rescue search missions and to provide escort for the Do 24 flying boats.[5]
5 May 45: all of the Staffel’s Do 24s transferred to Guldborg/Lolland in S Denmark and surrendered to the British there on 8 May. The Staffel was virtually intact with 15 Do 24s and 1 Ar 196 so the RAF decided to keep it on standby in case some use could be found for it. Finally, on 18 June, Seenotstaffel was pressed into service one last time and used to fly 450 German wounded from Guldborg to Schleswig under the protective escort of two RAF Typhoon squadrons. The escort was provided to maintain the captor/prisoner relationship as well as to guard the flying boats against any Soviet aircraft that might stray into the area. The Staffel was finally disbanded on arrival at Schleswig.[6]
FpN:(L 11334)
Staffelkapitän:
Maj.(d.R.) Karl Born (Oct 44 - May 45)[7]
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2024
References
- ↑ Dierich-VdL:283-97; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht; M.Holm-website (ww2.dk); K.Born-Rettung zwischen den Fronten: Seenotdienst der deutschen Luftwaffe 1939-1945.
- ↑ K.Born-op cit.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ K.Born-op cit.
- ↑ D.Jung/B.Wenzel/A.Abendroth-Die Schiffe und Boote der deutschen Seeflieger 1912-1976:202-03.
- ↑ Luftwaffen-Revue magazine, Heft (issue) 4/1990:82-85; Jet & Prop magazine, Heft 2/1994:58.
- ↑ Born was concurrently Kommandeur of Seenotgruppe 81.
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